September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. On this occasion, on the initiative of the Institute for Patients' Rights and Health Education and Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, the Palace of Culture and Science was illuminated in red last night. This is not only an impressive illumination, but above all a signal of support and solidarity with those affected by blood cancers.
There are more than 140 different types of blood cancers, and many of them are rare, life-threatening conditions faced by a small number of patients. However, combined, blood and bone marrow cancers - such as leukaemias, lymphomas and myelomas - account for seven per cent of all cancers[1]. More than 900,000 people are diagnosed with blood cancer worldwide each year3 and in Poland, every 40 minutes someone hears that they have a blood cancer2, yet many people remain unaware of these serious, often incurable diseases, resulting in blood cancer having very little public visibility.
This limited visibility can lead to challenges for patients seeking medical help, timely diagnoses and affect the availability of support, information and access to appropriate treatment for patients. Furthermore, affected individuals may rarely hear from others in the same or similar situation. That is why Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Poland and the Institute for Patient Rights and Health Education (IPPEZ), through the symbolic illumination of a well-known monument in the centre of Warsaw, wish to draw attention to the often invisible diseases of cancer. The increase in the number of cases and the complexity of these diseases pose enormous challenges to the medical community and patients. Blood Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness of the diagnostic, therapeutic and support needs of those affected by this form of cancer.
Blood Cancer Awareness Month is a global event, established by the US Congress 14 years ago[2], which aims to raise awareness about one of the most prevalent and dangerous cancers in the world: blood cancer. That is why every September it turns red to put the spotlight on the challenges of haemato-oncological diseases.
"With this symbolic gesture, we want to draw attention to hidden cancers and join the global effort to fight blood cancers. The increasing number of cases and the complexity of these diseases pose huge challenges for the medical community and patients. Blood Cancer Awareness Month is a unique opportunity to raise awareness about the diagnostic, treatment and support needs of those affected by this form of cancer.", says Igor Grzesiak, vice-president of the Institute for Patients' Rights and Health Education.
Innovation and collaboration are critical in the fight against these dangerous diseases. Johnson & Johnson, a leader in healthcare, has worked for decades to develop and deliver breakthrough therapies, and has led efforts to highlight the needs of patients with blood cancers. In Poland, a campaign has been running for nearly 10 years: "We have life in our blood", which aims to support and educate patients, raise awareness of the importance of prevention, and provide reliable information about the disease.
"At Johnson & Johnson, we have focused for several decades on developing targeted and innovative therapies in the area of haemato-oncology diseases, such as plasmocytic myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, among others, that transform treatment outcomes, improve and extend patients' quality of life. Thanks to our innovations We have changed the face of many blood cancers, but we are still constantly working on solutions to eradicate blood cancers altogether". says Geraldine Schenk, Managing Director at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Poland. In order to achieve this, we consistently include the patients' perspective in all our activities, so our medicinal products not only save patients' health and lives, but also change the public perception of cancer." - Geraldine Schenk adds.
September is a time to reflect on the importance of early diagnosis, medical advances and support for those affected by the disease, as any initiative that raises awareness of blood cancers contributes to a brighter future for patients around the world. Early detection of blood cancers significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Therefore, it is worthwhile to have regular blood count tests, which can detect abnormalities at an early stage. Anyone who notices symptoms such as chronic fatigue, easy bruising, frequent infections or weight loss for no apparent reason should perform these basic tests and consult their doctor about the results.
[1] https://www.termedia.pl/onkologia/Wrzesien-Swiatowy-Miesiac-Nowotworow-Krwi,39375.html, accessed 8.2024
2 https://w.onkonet.pl/n_n_nowotwory_krwi_2024_dkms.php, accessed 8.2024
[2] https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-111hres1433ih/html/BILLS-111hres1433ih.htm access 8.2024